South Africa will, as part of its efforts to address illegal immigration — a matter of growing concern among many citizens — send envoys to several fellow African countries to outline the measures it is taking to manage the issue within its borders.
In an address to the nation on Sunday evening from the Union Buildings in Pretoria, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a series of interventions aimed at addressing illegal immigration and strengthening border management.
“As South Africa, we will continue working with our sister countries to build an Africa in which people move by choice and not by desperation.
Through SADC, the African Union and our bilateral relations with other countries, we will seek sustainable solutions to these challenges,” said President Ramaphosa.
The President began his address by acknowledging the concerns being raised by South Africans.
“South Africans are raising these matters because they are concerned about pressure on public services.
They are concerned about safety, security and the rule of law.
These concerns are real. They deserve to be heard. They deserve to be addressed,” he said.
Anti-immigration sentiment has intensified in parts of the country over recent months, prompting growing calls for government intervention.
However, Ramaphosa cautioned against those seeking to exploit the issue for political or destabilising purposes.
“Fellow South Africans, as we work to tackle the problem of illegal immigration, we are determined not to allow anyone to exploit this issue to destabilise our country.
Our law enforcement agencies and security services — working with other state entities and key stakeholders — are ready to act to protect public safety, maintain law and order, and safeguard critical infrastructure,” explained the President.
Ramaphosa said government has listened to the concerns of citizens and has developed a plan to address illegal immigration while respecting human rights and constitutional values.
“We must not allow ourselves to turn against foreign nationals or against one another.
We reject the notion that we must tolerate illegal immigration.
We can protect our borders while protecting human dignity. We can enforce our laws while upholding our Constitution,” he emphasised.
